Quins skipper Robshaw not content with being rugby's nearly man

Chris Robshaw might finish the campaign being the nearly man of rugby, but he will not let it happen again next season.

The 27-year-old suffered a narrow defeat in France with England in February, missed out on winning the Six Nations championship title on points difference to Ireland and has seen the chance of an Amlin Cup final appearance slip away.

Add to that an agonising 30-22 defeat for England against New Zealand in the autumn and Robshaw might be forgiven for thinking the rugby gods have it in for him.

Director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men are clinging to the hope of a top four finish in the Premiership as they bid to secure silverware for a fourth consecutive season.

Their win at Exeter Chiefs on Sunday means a win over Bath at the Stoop will be enough to secure a play-off semi-final providing they provent the visitors securing a losing bonus point.

But if Quins finish the campaign empty handed Robshaw is intent on putting things right next time around.

“The Amlin Cup was massively disappointing. Losing in the semi-finals is, in many ways, the worst and most painful thing to happen,” he said last week.

“You never want those types of seasons, where things just slip out of reach. It has been quite similar to last year.

“But missing out just makes you more determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.